Welcome to Olympia

The City of Olympia in Thurston County (map) is the capital of the state of Washington. It is located at the southern end of Puget Sound and at the junction of Interstate 5 and the northern end of US101.

As the capital of the state, Olympia has many government offices.  Visitors can learn about the state, its government and history at the State Capital Museum and Outreach Center located a short distance from the state capitol in the historic mansion built in 1923 for banker Clarence J. Lord and his wife, Elizabeth.  The Bigelow House is the oldest residence in Olympia. It was built around 1860 by Daniel R. Bigelow, a pioneer lawyer, and his wife. The house is still occupied by descendents of the Bigelows and also serves as a museum.  There are several other historic places in Olympia, with many on the National Register of Historic Places, to add interest to a visit to this city.

The Olympia Historical Society is an excellent resource for learning about the history of Olympia and its people.  The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History has an introductory article on the history of Olympia.

The Hands On Children's Museum is a delight for younger visitors and the young at heart.

The Olympia Film Society presents a variety of films, including classics, throughout the year at the Capital Playhouse, a non-profit performing arts education and performance organization.  Opera Pacifica, the Olympia Washington Opera Company, is another part of the city's cultural scene.

The Evergreen State College in Olympia is among the state's most respected institutions of higher learning.

The Port of Olympia handles ocean-going vessels and maintains a marina for smaller craft.  The historic tug boat, Sand Man, is on display at Percival Landing in downtown Olympia.  The port also operates the Olympia Regional Airport providing general aviation services.  The Olympic Flight Museum is located at the airport.

Olympia has a good selection of hotels and motels to make it a very good base for exploring Northwest Washington

Our highway logs for Interstate 5 and US101 will help visitors with travel planning and driving directions.

The Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau web site is another good source of information for planning travel.

Transportation:  Intercity Transit has information about public transportation services for Olympia and the region. 

Airports:  Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the closest airport providing commercial passenger services.  It is on the south side of Seattle to the west of the south junction of Interstate 404 with Interstate 5. Olympia Regional Airport is to the south of the city on the east side of Interstate 5.

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